You are entitled to receive child benefit for each of your babies once they are born. If your twins are the eldest children in your family, the twin who was born first will receive the higher rate, which is £20.30 a week. The second-born twin, even if he's born just a few minutes later, and any younger children in your family, will each receive £13.40 a week.

If you have an older child before having twins, each twin will receive the lower rate. Call the child benefit helpline on 0845 302 1444 for more information.

Maternity leave and pay

If you are pregnant, regardless of how many babies you are having, you're entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave. The earliest you can start your maternity leave is 11 weeks before the beginning of the week when your babies are due. You can change this date as long as you give your employer 28 days' notice.

Premature labour is much more likely if you are expecting more than one baby. About half of all twins are born before 37 weeks, and the pregnancy is often more physically demanding. So you may want to start your maternity leave earlier.

If you're pregnant and an employee, you may be entitled to statutory maternity pay (SMP). This depends on your length of employment and your salary, but is not increased if you are pregnant with more than one baby.

If you've worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks before the end of the 15th week before your babies are due, you may receive SMP for up to 39 weeks.

For the first six weeks of your leave you'll be paid at 90 per cent of your average gross weekly earnings. For the remaining 33 weeks you may be paid a smaller amount. You'll get the lower of either the standard rate of £136.78, or 90 per cent of your average gross weekly earnings.

If you're not eligible to receive SMP, ask at your local Jobcentre Plus about maternity allowance (MA). This may apply to you if you have changed jobs during pregnancy, are self-employed, or if you are or have been unemployed during this pregnancy. If you don't qualify for maternity pay or maternity allowance, Jobcentre Plus will check if you're entitled to employment and support allowance (ESA).

You may be entitled to a Sure Start maternity grant if you and your partner are on a low income and are claiming benefits or tax credits. This one-off payment is to help with the cost of your twins. You receive £500 for each baby and the grant doesn't have to be repaid. Go to Directgov for details.

Paternity leave and pay

Dads of twins or more are allowed one period of paternity leave, regardless of how many babies are born as a result of your pregnancy.

Up to two weeks of ordinary paternity leave can be taken within eight weeks of your babies being born. This will help if your babies are born prematurely and need to stay in special care (SCBU) for a while. These two weeks must be taken together rather than as days off here and there.

Unless your babies' dad earns less than £109 a week, he will qualify for ordinary statutory paternity pay (OSPP). If he earns less than £109 a week, he may be entitled to income support. New dads can also take additional paternity leave of an extra 26 weeks, though this will be unpaid. This needs to be taken between 20 weeks and one year after your babies are born.

Childcare is an important factor in deciding if or when you return to work after the birth. Childcare for two or more babies can be expensive. If you qualify for parental leave, you can take up to 18 weeks' leave per child until their fifth birthday. However, you don't have an automatic right to be paid during parental leave.

Tax credits

If you have a low income, you may qualify for working tax credit, which could help with up to 70 per cent of childcare costs. This is up to a maximum cost of £175 per week if you have one child, and £300 per week if you have two or more children using registered childcare.

Child tax credit is to help with the cost of bringing up your children. If you've had twins and are on a low income, you can claim child tax credit for each baby. But you need to have been working at least 30 hours a week immediately before your maternity leave began, if you don't already have children. And you must be going back to work after your maternity leave to receive child tax credit.

Remember that as a mum-to-be, and up to a year after your baby is born, you are entitled to free dental care and free prescriptions, regardless of your income. Ask your midwife for an exemption certificate at your booking appointment.

Last reviewed: April 2012

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Comments

I am a mum of a 12 year old a 4 year old and a 1 year old i am now 26 weeks pregnant expecting twins. Very nervous but very blessed to be having twins and they are a boy and a girl good luck to everyone who is expecting twins hope all goes well xx

Am already a Mum to a 14 year old and a 23 month old, I'm currently 13 weeks and 1 day pregnant, Went for My dating scan yesterday. Only to discover I'm expecting twins. Shocked is a understatement but I'm happy about. Being 36, Its going to be a struggle but hopefully with love and support I'll be fine. A bit anxious and nervous about the whole situation but hopefully I'll be ok. Fingers crossed xx

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